Tag: podcast

The Working Songwriter: Dale Watson

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Our guest this week was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but, just like Davy Crockett, got to Texas as soon as he could. Dale Watson began his musical career playing the clubs of Houston before decamping to Austin and becoming a fixture in the live music capital of the world. The music machine in Nashville never fully embraced Watson’s traditionalist combination of Western swing, rockabilly, and country, but he’s built a devoted cult following the world over on his own. It’s a style of music that he calls “Ameripolitan.”

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Watson has toured with all the greats: Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. He’s appeared on The Late Show with David Lettermen, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and of course Austin City Limits. He’s performed at Stagecoach, Bristol Rhythm & Roots, and a host of other festivals.

He was a 2005 Austin Music Hall of Fame inductee and he was awarded the title of Texas State Musician in 2007. He founded the Ameripolitan Music Awards in 2014. The Austin Chronicle calls him their “local honky-tonk hero” and Saving Country Music says that “Dale Watson is all about keeping the honky-tonk traditions alive.”

I got a chance to catch up with Watson a few months ago to hear about his musical journey so far.

Photo courtesy of the artist.

Basic Folk: The Milk Carton Kids

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan, the Milk Carton Kids, are calling their latest album, Lost Cause Lover Fool, “the one.” They have finally figured out how to feel and sound like themselves with a broader sonic palette. They attribute that to sharing one mic when they sing with each other. The songs on the album enlarge small feelings and moments, working to turn them all into eternity. Moments that “usually pass too quickly to notice.” The guys have spent their careers making a case for staying small, staying present, and listening closely.

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We loved our conversation with Kenneth and Joey so much – in fact, immediately following Lizzie sent me a voice recording expressing just that. She said it was so real: “What great guests and what great hosts!” We learn that Joey is a nepo folk baby as his mother, Debbie, was in a folk duo in college. We dig into what death–and the banjo–are up to on their new album. We explore what it means to be labeled “weenies” versus “gentle” or “the titans of yearning.” We also hear from the guys about how they do not actually feel pressured to be funny, they just are.

Photo Credit: Max Wagner

The Other 22 Hours: Heather Mae

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

We often look at an artist’s career through the lens of industry accolades: the tours, the streaming numbers, the awards. But what happens when you intentionally dismantle your creative ego to build something focused entirely on collective liberation? Heather Mae is an award-winning independent artist, the founder of Singing Resistance Nashville, and a prominent voice in organized musical activism. Following a viral arrest at the Tennessee State Capitol while protesting anti-trans legislation, Heather sits down with The Other 22 Hours to discuss the profound impacts of communal singing, navigating trauma as a neurodivergent and queer creator, and how to balance radical empathy without completely burning out. It’s an expansive, deeply human conversation about moving past the modern traps of artistic productivity to discover what it truly means to be of service.

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In This Episode:

– Heather Mae
– Ysaye Barnwell
– Sweet Honey in the Rock
– The Song School (Planet Bluegrass)
– National Organization for Women
– Singing Resistance Nashville
– Tennessee Equality Project
– Melody Walker
– Justin Jones
– Gloria Johnson
– WMOT
– “Just More Love”
– Alex Pretti
– Folk Alliance
– Crys Matthews
– Etta James
– MusiCares
– Music Health Alliance
– Carl Jung
– Ep 97 – Fancy Hagood

Go Deeper: 

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Laura Schneider

Folk Files by Olivia Harding to Join BGS Podcast Network

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

The BGS team is excited to announce yet another addition to the BGS Podcast Network lineup for 2026, after both The Other 22 Hours and the Working Songwriter came on board earlier this year. On June 19, 2026 beloved folk music podcast Folk Files, hosted and created by Olivia Harding, will begin a new season as part of the BGS family. This makes the third new podcast to join BGS in 2026 and the 15th show to partner with or be produced or distributed by the BGS Podcast Network.

Founded in 2023, Harding began Folk Files as a podcast seeking to uncover “the mysteries of folk music through the ages.” Each episode dives deep into the tangled history of murder ballads, sea shanties, rebel songs, and other music that has withstood the test of time. Folk Files provides context, history, and insight into songs we all know and love – and fresh discoveries and deep cuts, too. Episodes will be released once a month on every third Friday beginning on June 19, 2026, with an episode examining a child ballad, “Two Brothers,” and stories of fratricide from around the world. The episode will also discuss the importance of nomadic communities when it comes to the folk process and song collecting. (Find where to listen and subscribe here.)

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“When I first started Folk Files, the Bluegrass Situation was an amazing resource full of interviews, articles, and audio that proved invaluable while I was researching my earliest episodes,” Harding says about the announcement. “I never would have guessed that within a couple years, BGS would become my podcast’s new home. I am so excited and grateful to have joined a network of such passionate, supportive people.”

Cindy Howes, director of the BGS Podcast Network and host of Basic Folk, also gushed about the new partnership: “We have been quietly freaking out over Folk Files for some time now. The way Olivia presents and untangles the mysteries and backstories of folk music had us hooked from the jump. We are overjoyed to welcome this wonderful show to our network.”

With BGS’s longtime focus on roots music, culture, and traditions, Folk Files will certainly feel right at home on the BGS Podcast Network. Before the show resumes with BGS on June 19, Harding shared with us five recommended episodes from the Folk Files archives so readers and subscribers can catch up on the show in preparation. Subscribe now so you don’t miss a thing and dive into the full show archive (above) or Harding’s five recommended episodes (below) to celebrate the addition of Folk Files to the BGS Podcast Network.

The Music of Temple Bar (Episode #3.3)

In 2026’s St. Patrick’s Day episode, Folk Files asks the question: Is it actually Irish? Explore over thirty songs that are performed in Irish contexts and see if they actually come from Irish sources. Along the way, we’ll discuss the Rising of 1798, the history of Dublin, the Great Famine, and the Irish diaspora.

Stand and Deliver (Episode #2.8)

Robbers, bandits, highwaymen – there are a lot of English folk songs about outlaws. In this episode of Folk Files, we look at why there are so many songs about criminals and what patterns exist in these ballads. Then, we look at “Robbers’ Retreat” in an attempt to figure out why the song (also known as “Cadgwith Anthem”) doesn’t seem to follow any of those patterns.

Peaches in the Summertime (Episode #8)

“Shady Grove” is an Appalachian folk song that is often linked to the English ballad “Matty Groves.” But what is the actual relationship between them? This episode of Folk Files discusses the meaning and history of “Shady Grove” and untangles the origins of the two iconic songs.

Haul Away (Episode #4)

This episode of Folk Files traces the roots of popular sea shanties to Black work songs and African folk traditions.

Learn more about Folk Files and subscribe here.

Lead image photo courtesy of Olivia Harding.

The Other 22 Hours: Matraca Berg

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

We often treat commercial success as the final destination of a creative life, but for legendary songwriter Matraca Berg, it was just the first act. Her songs became major country hits for Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Deana Carter, Kenny Chesney, the Chicks, Patty Loveless, and Reba McEntire, among many others. Matraca’s catalog defines generations of American songwriting.

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We sit down with the GRAMMY-nominated member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on the Other 22 Hours to explore the realities of achieving massive success while battling paralyzing stage fright, the transition from the multi-platinum physical sales era of the 1990s to modern streaming, and how she keeps her creative tank full as the industry has changed around her. In a culture obsessed with youth and immediate output, Matraca offers a grounded, reassuring perspective on aging within an art form, artistic alignment, and learning to trust.

In This Episode:

– Matraca Berg
– Ep 147 – Jeff Hanna
– Sudie Calloway
– Mel Tillis
– Joni Mitchell
– Bluebird Cafe
– Clint Black
– Nanci Griffith
– Ep 60 – Lori McKenna
– Bobby Braddock
– Harlan Howard
– Ashley McBryde
– Gary Harrison
– Ep 28 – The Wood Brothers
– Zach Berkman
– Tiger King
– Chris Stapleton
– Ella Langley
– Jessi Colter
– Waylon Jennings
– Maggie Gyllenhaal
– Peter Sarsgaard
– Hill Country Barbecue
– Jake Gyllenhaal
– Minnie Pearl

Go Deeper: 

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Glenn Rose

The Working Songwriter: Joe Pernice

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Our guest on the Working Songwriter this week originally hails from Boston, Massachusetts, and now makes his home in Toronto. Joe Pernice got his musical start, though, in Northampton, Mass. At the time, it was a hot bed of indie music creativity. His band the Scud Mountain Boys built a loyal following in the 1990s with a string of critically acclaimed releases. He’s recorded for Sub Pop, One Little Indian, Team Love, and New West Records.

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Over the years Pernice has collaborated with a variety of blue-chip songwriters such as Aimee Mann, Neko Case, Norman Blake (of Teenage Fanclub), Jimmy Webb, Rodney Crowell, and Jim White. He’s also a man of many talents; his novel It Feels So Good When I Stop was published by Penguin Books in 2009. NPR calls him “a workhorse of a songwriter who delivers hard truths with the softest of whispers.” Brooklyn Vegan declared, “Few songwriters today imbue frustration and anguish into the sweetest of melodies as Joe Pernice.”

I got a chance to catch up with him a few months ago to hear about his musical journey so far.

Photo Credit: Colleen Nicholson

Basic Folk: Matt Smith (Club Passim)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Matt Smith is a living legend with his unbelievable 30-year run at Club Passim, the historic folk venue nestled in a Harvard Square basement. Currently in the role of Managing Director at Passim, Matt is the most passionate music lover I know. He has used his platform at the club to help establish artists like Lori McKenna, Anaïs Mitchell, Lake Street Dive, and so many more. I met Matt while working as a student at WERS 88.9FM, where he brought fantastic shows to a listening room filled with people who were clamoring for honest music in an intimate space. He’s been a very good friend and mentor to myself and thousands of musicians since he began his tenure at the club in 1995.

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In honor of Matt’s 30th anniversary at Passim, we brought two longtime friends on the pod to talk to him about his role in the Passim community – and beyond. Musicians Edie Carey and Dinty Child join us in conversation with Matt; he shares advice he would give his younger self, we chat about what a vacation without music would look like, and his incredible memory. That memory is tested in our lightning round where he answers Passim trivia (almost 100% correctly). There’s also a discussion about what Matt is most proud of in all his years at the club: the campfire. festival, which takes place every Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends featuring sets in-the-round of mostly unknown new acts. I would imagine if you’re listening to this episode of Basic Folk, you either know Matt or Club Passim. Hello to all our friends and I hope you enjoy this window into one of the best people we’ve ever known: Matt Smith!

Photo Credit: Barry Schneier

The Other 22 Hours: Rob Moose

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Behind nearly every influential indie-rock and pop record of the last 15 years has been the brilliant mind and hand of string arranger and multi-instrumentalist Rob Moose. The three-time GRAMMY winner has contributed to thousands of records by the likes of Paul Simon, Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver, St. Vincent, Bruce Hornsby, and Mumford & Sons. In this calming, deeply reflective conversation on The Other 22 Hours, Rob opens up about “peaking” in the live touring industry, the transition to a studio-centric life, and how fatherhood has introduced a powerful focus into his creative process. It is an exploration of legacy, creative boundaries, and why sustaining a 20-year career ultimately comes down to treating music not as an athletic feat, but as a deeply human relationship.

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In This Episode:

– Rob Moose
– Manhattan School of Music
– Columbia University
– The New School
– Interlochen Arts Academy
– Nirvana
– Bon Iver
– SNL
– Paul Simon
– Madison Square Garden
– Bowery Ballroom
– The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron
– Nonesuch Record
– Gabe Kahane

Go Deeper: 

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Max Wanger

The Other 22 Hours: Michaela Anne & Aaron Shafer-Haiss

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

To celebrate our 150th episode of The Other 22 Hours, we try a bit of an experiment: interviewing ourselves, for the first time. After nearly two decades of partnership, we examine the evolution of the creative self. Michaela Anne – whose fifth record, These Are The Days, marks her first in over 10 years for which she retains total ownership – discusses the “massive shift of self” required to walk away from industry gatekeepers. Aaron Shafer-Haiss, whose compositions have scored major network dramas like Station 19 and The Good Doctor, reflects on the “utilitarian creativity” of a producer. It is a conversation about resilience, the “growth seesaw” of a creative marriage, and the realization that the dream is already happening.

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In This Episode:

– Michaela Anne
– Aaron Shafer-Haiss
– These Are The Days
– Ep 109 Major Jackson
– Nonesuch Records
– Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
– Bonnaroo
– Cayamo
– Mountain Stage
– Folks Fest
– Middle Tennessee State University
– Owen Biddle
– Seth Taylor
– Ethan Ballinger
– Kyshona
– Lyle Davinsky
– Lauren Balthrop
– Post Malone

Go Deeper: 

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo courtesy of the Other 22 Hours.

The 2nd Annual Working Songwriter Forum Returns to Chicago

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

The BGS Podcast Network, the Working Songwriter, and podcast host/creator Joe Pug are excited to invite you to attend the 2nd Annual Working Songwriter Forum. Set for June 5-7, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Illinois, the event will include concerts, workshops, podcasts, open mics, and more. Space is limited, but 3-day passes are still available. Get more information and purchase tickets here.

Each night of the Forum will feature a full concert by songwriters and musicians on the Forum lineup. David Ramirez and Rachel Baiman will take the stage on Friday, June 5, and John Moreland and TWS creator and host Joe Pug will headline Saturday, June 6.

“Last year’s event featured Craig Finn and Courtney Hartman,” Pug tells BGS via email. “It went better than I could have ever expected. And the Old Town School’s campus in Chicago is such a natural home for the event. I can’t wait to see our returning attendees again and to meet those joining us for the first time.”

The heart of the weekend is a slate of intensive workshops from both Old Town School’s master educators – like Jonas Friddle – as well as Q&As with the Forum’s guest artists. Attendees will also have the opportunity to play scheduled open mics on each day of the event. (See a full schedule below.)

Whether a veteran songwriter or a novice just starting your creative journey, there’s something for everyone on the slate for the 2nd Annual Working Songwriter Forum. We hope you’ll join us and TWS in Chicago at the Old Town School of Folk Music next month! Get more information about the Forum and purchase your tickets here.

Unable to attend the full Forum? Limited concert tickets are available for the evening performances by Ramirez and Baiman and Moreland and Pug.

The Working Songwriter Forum Schedule

Friday, June 5, 2026
4pm – Welcome to The Working Songwriter Forum
5pm – Rachel Baiman teaches Poetry versus Rhetoric in Songwriting
6pm – Dinner Break
8pm – Rachel Baiman Live in Szold Hall
9pm – David Ramirez Live in Szold Hall

Saturday, June 6, 2026
10:30am – Jonas Friddle teaches Something from Nothing
11:45am – David Ramirez presents The Misunderstanding in Wanting to be Understood
1pm – Lunch break
2pm – Open Mic
3:15pm – The Working Songwriter taping with John Moreland and Joe Pug
6pm – Dinner Break
8pm – Joe Pug Live in Maurer Hall
9pm – John Moreland Live in Maurer Hall

Sunday, June 7, 2026
11am – Open Mic: Songs Written at The Working Songwriter Forum
12pm – Lunch break
1pm – Open Mic: Songs Written at The Working Songwriter Forum and a Farewell

Explore our archive of episodes of the Working Songwriter podcast here.